A Tale of the Two Brothers-
This is the story of someone who has gone through the thickest and the thinnest with me in the army.
Chapter 1- What a mate!
"What an exciting moment for me...I heard that the bunks in the officer training school are 2men bunks! I wonder who my buddy would be..." I told myself as my dad drove me to report to the officer school on my 1st day.
"Officer cadet Leon! U will stay with officer cadet Jacob." I turned to look at my new buddy, "oh man..this guy looks like the kinda guy that's unserious about everything...I'm gonna have a hard time."
But little did I know...we could connect with each other so well it was hard to believe. We became friends.
Chapter 2- Two person, one dream
Everyday we would be whining about how xiong and crazy training was. Before we came to this place, we always told ourselves that if we were posted here, we will never quit. But now it's so tough that we really really felt like giving up. Everyone else in our platoon seemed to energetic and positive about the hard training except the both of us.
One fine night...both of us couldn't take it anymore. "Hey...leon, why did you want to be an officer?" I asked.
Leon: "Hmm...last time in basic military school, I was very inspired by my officer, and I wanted to be able to lead like him, and help others like him. I also wanna learn and experience something for myself in my 2 years stay in army"
Me: "Hmm...that sounds like me too...but looks like the both of us are gonna fail this course. So u also hope to return to basic military school to train the recruits like me?"
Leon: "Yeah! of cuz! It's the best place to be! U won't have to lead men to war, but u become like an instructor, a caring father to the recruits..."
Me: "That's exactly how I feel too! We have the same goal...maybe we can remind each other of our goal when we're down like now!"
Many weeks have gone by after that conversation we had...We found ourselves often marked by our instructors for either not paying attention to the dry and boring military lessons or for not knowing our stuff well.
Chapter 3- Bad training calls for good moral support
Then came the day where we had a super terrible defense mission, where we had to dig trenches up to our height and stay there for afew days.
We dug through day and night for 3 stormy raining days without any sleep and proper meals...We felt devastated. We were speechless. "This is crazy...I can believe that even my underwear is soaked in muddy clay."
Leon: "ya man! I hate this crap! It's unreal! I can't feel my legs anymore...it's been soaking wet for 3 days in my boots already. If the rain continues...our trench will be destroyed again and we're never gonna finish digging. I'm falling aslp even right now."
Me: " Haix...I just wanna head back to bunk...nvm...maybe after we finish this whole 9 months of shit...we'll really get posted back to basic military school as instructors!"
Leon: " yeah man! I think we're the kind that suits that role totally...haix...lets just keep digging la..until we see the light at the end of the tunnel"
Chapter 4- My weakness, his strength
We finally pulled through all the tough training that were presented to us....(so far).
There were however still many problems that lay ahead especially for me. Being someone who hasn't been fit before in his whole life..I find it hard to pass my obstacle course or achieve gold standards for my pt.
Leon: " Hey! you can do it la! Really! I know that you're the kind of person that will somehow push yourself and rise to the occassion when u have to!"
Me: " Haix...I've been trying really hard...u also know...but I'm just improving too slowly...there's not enough time"
Leon: " Come on! I believe in you"
Very little people would actually believe in me so strongly, or even be bothered with believing in me in the 1st place. Even I find it hard to believe in myself. Little did I expect that I would passed all my obstacle after retrying countless of times, and I manage to earn the fitness gold badge to put on my uniform.
Chapter 5- Buddies die together
As we step into the fourth month of training, we grew so sick of this whole big chunk of military stuff that were forced fed to us every hour of the day.
Things got worse when we heard that the both of us were given the toughest post for one of the most challenging mission.
"All of you will fight one major mission a day for 4 consecutive days without any sleep. The last mission, which happens to be on the last day...will be the most difficult and tiring one, having burned out all your energy on the last 3 missions.
Leon and Jacob, the both of you will lead the last mission"
My sir gladly announced this news to us, with the intention to kick us out of the course if we made mistakes in that mission.
Jacob: "I guess it's fate...It's the both of us again! Haha! This time we're bound to die man!"
Leon: "I saw that coming man! I'm prepared...haix! They are really out to chop us this time!"
Jacob: "Actually...to be honest...I'm kinda glad I got selected this hardest mission. Because I'm doing it with you. Who else will make the best team? Only the both of us and no one else."
Leon: "I feel the same also man! Ev en if we have to die or fail the course...lets do it together man!"
Little did we know that out of the 4 missions...ours was the only one that led our whole platoon to victory...We were not the best leaders, but there was nothing that could destroy the magical power that came with our team work and bond.
Chapter 6- Jungle survival
Leon: "This is unreal man! This is totally crazy! I can even see anything 3meters ahead! URGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!SOMEBODY!!!!!!!!!!!WHAT'S THIS!"
Jacob: "I'm hungry man....I don't even have the energy to walk or scream anymore...why are we doing this...have you ever wondered? why..."
Leon: "I dunno man..I have never felt so desperate before...I'll gladly pay any amount if it can find me a way out of this jungle."
Jacob: "I eat any thing...even if it's inside a pile of mud...seriously...this is the craziest moment of my life...I dun even know if I'll make it."
Leon: "Me too...but I think can lah! We've been through so much...we'll earn the badge and wear it proudly on our chest! Den when we become instructors we can share with the recruits about our experiences!"
Jacob: "Oh ya! We're going to go back to basic military school together! I believe we will la...somehow...."
At that point in time, I really didn't know if we'll have the chance to go back to basic military school, but...somehow...the both of us passed the course and received the badge.
Chapter 7- The Posting!!
The day we've waited for has finally arrived! Our sir sat us down and said this to us before he announced our posting. "Many of you will be posted to combat unit...not many of you will return to basic military school as instructors."
Our hearts sank totally....
"Let me read the posting to you: Andy.....you will go to a combat unit...blah blah blah....blah blah blah....Leon and Jacob, both of you are going to basic military school as instructors!"
"YES!!!!WE'VE MADE IT!!! OUR DREAM CAME TRUE TOTALLY! WE'RE GONNA LEAD AND TOUCH THE LIFE OF THE RECRUITS!!! OH MAN!!!!I CANNOT BELIEVE THIS!!!"
Final Chapter- For one to leave, one must stay...
We held our heads high with the brightest smile on our face as we entered the basic military school. We left this place the last time as botaks. But little did we expect that we'll come back on this very day as officers. Our day has come. The impossible has been made possible to unite the both of us all the way....until this very place which was the common dream we had.
All was well and good...until one fine day were both my buddy and I, together with several others, were brought into a room. The officer that brought us in explained to us:
"The reason why you guys are selected to come here is because we need one of you to give up your role as an instructor, in order to take on a staff role. While the rest of you will leave this room at the end of the interview, the chosen one will stay behind as our staff in this office."
An hour passed since the start of the interview...All of us awaited with cold sweat. I was told by my interviewer that I had what it takes to be a staff officer and that I would most likely be choosen. I was really scared. I don't want a staff role. I want to be with my recruits.
"The results are out! Out of all of you, We've selected Leon as our new staff officer!"
Both Leon and I were speechless. We are not gonna become instructors together. We're gonna walk our own paths. We'll not have the chance to work closely anymore. His dreams to be an instructor has been shattered.
Being curious with the results, I looked up the interviewer and asked why was my buddy chosen. The interviewer told me that I was actually their initial choice, but because of some other reason they decide to choose my buddy instead.
Either way...It's either I stay or he stay...and this time, he stayed on my behalf so that I'm free to go and persue my deams as an instructor.
Our common path ends here. Every beginning has an end. I still find it hard to accept that we're going on our own ways. The many things that you wish to share and teach the recruits, I know them all. I promise that I'll do it on your behalf to my recruits.
I'll remember you forever, the one who went through the shittest part of my life with me.
